What We Do

The RSGS is a small, dynamic, educational charity, working across Scotland and beyond to promote geographical understanding and joined-up thinking. We organise inspirational public talks and events, publish an excellent magazine, share ideas through our broad network, engage in important policy discussions, champion the teaching of Geography, maintain a fascinating historical collection, and develop exciting projects.

Public Events

Our Inspiring People talks in 2020 will all be held virtually, via Zoom. Details here. Read more

The Geographer

We publish an attractive and informative quarterly magazine, The Geographer. Read more

Our Influence

We are at the heart of a community of interest – an RSGS family of individuals and organisations working together, part of an international network of geographical expertise and achievement. Read more

Informing Policy

We engage in policy discussions with national government departments, international bodies, local authorities, community organisations, schools, universities, companies, NGOs and others. Read more

Schools Education

We are a champion for geographical education in Scottish schools, involved in policy discussions, promoting geography in schools, and projects. Read more

University Research

We promote geographical research in Scottish universities, offer ‘knowledge exchange’ opportunities, and publish a peer-reviewed academic journal. Read more

Heritage Collections

We conserve and curate heritage collections of more than 100,000 historical and contemporary maps, and a wide variety of books, artefacts and archives. Read more

Innovative Projects

We develop exciting projects to inspire public audiences, influence policy-makers, and solve complex problems. Read more

Latest

Carbon Choices

Carbon Choices tells the greatest story on Earth: how humans came to emit 40 billion tonnes of an invisible gas each year, changing the chemistry of the atmosphere and the oceans, and steadily destroying the life support systems they depend on.

Building Back Better

"A silver lining of this awful pandemic would be to emerge from one crisis with the foresight, confidence and optimism to tackle the climate crisis too..." writes Mike Robinson, Chief Executive of RSGS

Time to Teach

"As with many things, the COVID-19 pandemic has begun to expose cracks in those areas of our society which have been de-prioritised or starved of funds during this past decade of austerity." Writes Chief Executive of RSGS, Mike Robinson

August 2020

August e-newsletter of the RSGS: Details about the 2020-21 Inspiring People talks series, which will be held online for the first time.

Departing the Island on 'The Edge of the World’

"Ninety years ago, on August 29, 1930, the last 36 residents of St Kilda were evacuated. Huddled on HMS Harebell they were conveyed from Village Bay on Hirta to mainland Scotland." Writes Collections Volunteer, Kenny Maclean FRSGS.

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland: An Interview

After 14 years, Mike Robinson stepped down from the charity coalition he established: Stop Climate Chaos Scotland. In this interview with Jo Woolf, he speaks about his lifelong passion for environmental issues and his hopes for the future.

Shackleton at the RSGS: A Sketch

This is an attempt to explain why there are no newspaper cuttings in the RSGS archives from early 1904 until late 1905. This is approximately the length of Shackleton’s tenure as Secretary...

What an Emergency Looks Like

"In the case of coronavirus, despite some amount of confusion, at least we now know what an emergency response looks like," writes Mike Robinson, Chief Executive of RSGS.

COP26 Postponed

"Postponing the relevant UN COPs was inevitable, but we need to see them as essential pre-planning, and re-schedule them as soon as circumstance allows," writes Mike Robinson, RSGS Chief Executive.

Erskine Beveridge: the Dunfermline Geographer

"Beveridge's photographs could be dismissed as a romantic view of Scotland but, as well as castles and mountains, they also capture a historical geography and social history..." writes Bruce Gittings FRSGS

An Interview with Levison Wood

“It’s about showing what a region is really like through the eyes of the people who live there.” Explorer Levison Wood speaks to RSGS Writer-in-Residence, Jo Woolf.

The Climate Emergency: One Year On

"Although coronavirus is quite rightly dominating our thoughts and immediate concerns, the climate emergency hasn't gone away." An interview with Mike Robinson and Professor Dave Reay.

An Interview with Calum Maclean

For our Young Geographer magazine published in 2019, our team of Editors sat down with BBC presenter and wild-swimmer Calum Maclean. The magazine article was published in Gaelic, but we're pleased to share the English version online!

The Next Normal

"The end of a world is also the beginning of a world. Right now, the world we inhabited – but did not really know – has ended. The new beginning, the ‘next normal’, is already happening" writes Mike Elm.